120K on a set of regular plugs

[onion]

Concern about those aluminum threads is exactly why I'm considering this. I'm not worried about the plugs themselves- I'm reasonably sure that they'll be fine. My main goal is to avoid the plugs seizing in the heads: hence cleaning and application of antiseize.

With my Ford and GM engines, plugs cost about $2 each... so I'd replace them every time. Usually around 50-70k. But these Honda plugs are expen$ive (about $12 per plug). And I'm broke (starving-student and all that [censored]).

There are cheaper plugs available for this engine- for maybe $4 each... but they're cheap copper plugs, and this engine came originally with NGK iridiums. If this was an old Ford or GM engine, it wouldn't bother me a bit to put in some cheap plugs- but this thing is a modern aluminum engine with one coil-pack per cylinder and variable valve timing. That's old hat to some people but previously the most modern engine I've owned was a GM 3100. [censored], my truck still has a carburetor and a distributor.


Is anybody aware of actual plug failures in these engines (as in the tips breaking off or the like)? 'Cause if threads are the only concern here, then I'll probably antiseize and re-use these plugs. I mean, it's not like I'm towing a bass-boat with my Accord.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: onion
Concern about those aluminum threads is exactly why I'm considering this. I'm not worried about the plugs themselves- I'm reasonably sure that they'll be fine. My main goal is to avoid the plugs seizing in the heads: hence cleaning and application of antiseize.

With my Ford and GM engines, plugs cost about $2 each... so I'd replace them every time. Usually around 50-70k. But these Honda plugs are expen$ive (about $12 per plug). And I'm broke (starving-student and all that [censored]).

There are cheaper plugs available for this engine- for maybe $4 each... but they're cheap copper plugs, and this engine came originally with NGK iridiums. If this was an old Ford or GM engine, it wouldn't bother me a bit to put in some cheap plugs- but this thing is a modern aluminum engine with one coil-pack per cylinder and variable valve timing. That's old hat to some people but previously the most modern engine I've owned was a GM 3100. [censored], my truck still has a carburetor and a distributor.


Is anybody aware of actual plug failures in these engines (as in the tips breaking off or the like)? 'Cause if threads are the only concern here, then I'll probably antiseize and re-use these plugs. I mean, it's not like I'm towing a bass-boat with my Accord.

There's nothing special about the Honda plugs, except they say Honda on the box. That doesn't make them any better, nor does it make them last any longer. Get a set of NGKs and save yourself some money...

 

[rshaw125]

A tube of Anti-seize is a must when dealing with aluminum heads.They're not expensive and last years.

 

[bradepb]

I just changed plugs on my sons taurus, 2001 99,000 miles vulcan engine. Glad I did, the electrodes were just about gone, put in Autolite single platinum.

 

[dparm]

You're a sucker if you buy plugs at the dealer, except for weird cars like the RX-8 which had special custom plugs.

The Audi guys think there's something magical about the dealer's 4-electrode platinum plugs that cost $20 a piece. I go to Autozone and buy the $2.50 NGK platinums and the car runs perfectly.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I'm sure the engine wasn't running as efficiently as it should be once the the electrodes started wearing down and it was probably hurting my fuel economy somewhat.


Actually, I doubt that. As long as the plug will fire reliably, the fact that the electrodes are worn and the gap is wider just means more fuel/air gets exposed to spark... in a way a GOOD thing. It only becomes a problem when it starts misfiring... which probably did actually begin a little bit before you noticed it, but not too long.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
I'm curious - about both vehicles - what is the recommended interval on your plugs?


Here's an oddball one for you: The 2008 and later Dodge 4.7 V8. Its got two plugs per cylinder, an upper plug that threads into the top of the cylinder head between intake runners and a lower that threads into the side of the head between exhaust ports like most V8s. From the factory, the upper plugs are regular copper and have a 60,000 mile replacement interval... I think... I'm going from memory. But the lower plugs are "premium" (which I translate 'platinum') and are recommended for a 100k mile interval. Odd, if you ask me.

 

[FZ1]

Lol. It's small Bass Boat. Use only oem spec plugs. I don't think you are supposed to clean iridiums.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: bradepb
I just changed plugs on my sons taurus, 2001 99,000 miles vulcan engine. Glad I did, the electrodes were just about gone, put in Autolite single platinum.


You should have gotten double platinum. It is a waste spark system that fire in one direction on one bank and the other direction on the other bank. If you do not rotate the plugs they probably only last 30k on the reverse firing side.